The existing fountain and plaza outside of Anthropologie at the corner of Bethesda and Woodmont Avenues have been completely obliterated. What is going to take their place? According to this rendering posted by Bethesda Row property owner Federal Realty, the new plaza will feature an interactive fountain, landscaping, additional seating, and a canopy for shade. What will replace the smaller fountain - if anything - at the corner of Bethesda and Arlington Road is not mentioned.
Well duhh! The interactive fountain will replace the old fountain. Tit for tat Einstein.
ReplyDeleteFederal Realty generally does a very good job on their streetscaping, lighting and landscaping. I look forward to seeing how this works out, and how it might compliment the future Capital Crescent Civic Green that will be just across the street.
ReplyDeleteI am also curious if and when Federal Realty will build out the permanent streeterie on Woodmont. Plans have been shown that propose a wider curbed sidewalk with two new rows of shade trees, and separate enhanced outdoor dining areas dedicated for adjacent restaurant and some open for carry out dining. It looks like they propose to take out the large exiting shade trees and plant 16 new ones. I also see that Federal Realty is heavily modifying the mid-block lobby and entrance to the office building on that block.
It doesn’t look like they are putting a fountain back at the Nike corner plaza.
Do you have a link for those streeterie plans? That sounds interesting and I couldn't find anything about the plans.
DeleteWhat makes a fountain especially "interactive"?
ReplyDeleteDoes it have some kind of button(s) you can push?
Can you can affect it through an app on your phone?
Just wondering.
What's going on at the fenced in area across the street by Mon Ami Gabi / Tacombi? I thought it was supposed to be a public space, but seems like it has become a semi-permanent construction office.
ReplyDeleteThe fenced area is the construction trailer and staging area for the west end of the Purple Line, the Bethesda Purple Line Station and the new south entrance to the Bethesda Metro Station. Once the construction is complete, the area will become a new county park called the Capital Crescent Civic Green, likely to include shaded sloping lawn panels, shade trees, seating, sculpture and perhaps a splash pad water feature for the younglings.
ReplyDeleteThe corner of the Civic Green near the theater will also include a section of “tail tracks” for the Purple Line. These tracks will be constructed flush with the paving, west of the station platform to allow trains to be pre-staged before opening hours. This means that early in the morning, you might see a few light rail trains parked in that corner of the Civic Green.
Of course, if the Purple Line is ever extended to the west, the tracks would later be extended to cross Woodmont Avenue, through the new plaza in front of Antropolgie, then cross Bethesda Avenue, to access the Capital Crescent Trail, which would be widened and split with a fence to share the former rail right of way with hikers and bikers, like it will between Bethesda and Silver Spring, at least according to our fearless leader, Robert. Light rail trains are designed like streetcars, and can pass over plazas and streets where they share the space with cars and pedestrians.
The Purple Line will be inevitably extended on past to Westbard, Little Falls, and McLean, Parks did a great job ensuring forever public ownership of the entire right of way for the extension. Closing down Little Falls Parkway will make that crossing safer and cheaper since no bridge or tunnel would be needed. It's only a matter of time before this will be officially proposed
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